The Maplewood Neighborhood Association cordially invites you to City Council Candidates' Night on September 4 at 7 PM at Aquinas Cafeteria!

There have been a surfeit of candidates in Election Year 2013 in Rochester.

For nine city offices ( that of mayor, five for city council-at-large and three for school board ), there are over twenty candidates.

Rochester’s Northwest Quadrant faced a dilemma: should each of the three active neighborhood associations ( Lyell-Otis, Maplewood and Charlotte ) host a “candidates’ night” featuring all of the candidates just prior to the Democratic Primary election on September 10? This would preclude any serious interaction with the residents simply because there would be too many candidates at each meeting to undertake anything more than a perfunctory introduction to them.

Or, each neighborhood association could feature a specific group of candidates at their monthly “town meeting.” This would allow for greater voter participation in the proceedings.

Ultimately, this is what the Northwest Quadrant opted for.

The Lyell-Otis town meeting featured the mayoral candidates a few weeks ago.

The Charlotte Community Association is slated to host the school board candidates on its September 9 meeting ( the night before the Democratic Primary ).

And Maplewood?

The Maplewood Neighborhood Association cordially invites you to attend their City Council candidates’ night on September 4 at 7 PM at Aquinas Cafeteria on Dewey Avenue. There is free parking behind the building.

This is a deadly serious election year for Rochester.

For years, well before the Duffy/Richards administration, our city has been in a state of chaotic uncertainty as to whether or not we can reinvent ourselves or fall into the terminal decay that has occurred in Detroit and Buffalo.

The public relations witch doctors of Citygov have come up with some completely unconvincing political hype describing Rochester as “a city transformed.”

Into what, they don’t say.

Admittedly, Citygov may have dumped nearly two billion bucks into our neighborhoods, but that hasn’t produced any clear benefit to anyone.

Tearing down abandoned houses merely takes them off of our already burdened tax rolls, while creating a “missing tooth effect” in our neighborhoods: the vacant lots soon become dumping grounds for trash.

Building spiffy new homes amidst extant squalid housing provides no real long term benefit, but merely continues to concentrate poverty into certain neighborhoods. It is in these neighborhoods that unemployment may reach higher than fifty percent.

Three years ago, Rochester was listed as the eleventh worst city in the nation for child poverty. Last year, we sank to an even more dismal seventh place.

Our city is regarded as the most violent place in New York State, its murder capital.

To turn all of this around, we need all branches of Citygov ( the mayor’s office and City Council ) AND the school board to work together ( and the operative word is “work” ).

It hasn’t happened yet.

City Council was formerly a powerful and important part of Citygov. It remains the best-paying part-time job Citygov has to offer.

There are three groups of people running for the five “at-large” seats for Rochester City Council this year.

The first are the incumbents.

An allegorical depiction of politicians!

Every incumbent running for City Council got the endorsement from the various Democratic committees in Rochester, for whatever reason.

The incumbents have, therefore, a distinct advantage. The Democratic Party machine is supporting them in regards to bulk mailing rates for their campaign propaganda and getting signatures for their petitions. Incumbents also have existing campaign accounts, which have been added to during the years that they have no need to campaign, since election campaigns are an expensive process.

They also have name recognition. But then, so did former Rochesterians Arthur Shawcross, Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi.

The incumbents are demanding to be re-elected so that they continue “improving” Rochester.

( see above for “Rochester: a city transformed” )

We might pretty much gather what to expect from them in the future: more of the same.

The next group are the Democratic challengers, notably Lisa Jacques, Marlowe Washington and Anthony Giordano. They did not buy their own party line that Rochester is improving and that the incumbents have done a crackerjack job making those improvements.

After all, who are they going to believe, their party chieftains or their own lying eyes and pocketbooks?

The Democratic challengers did not receive the party’s designation, and have had to finance their campaigns and seek signatures on their petitions without the help of the party machine.

And for an “at-large” race, they lack name recognition outside of their own neighborhoods.

The last group are the Green Party candidates: Dorothy Paige, Andrew Langdon and David Atias. Since they are not Democrats, they will not be in the Democratic Primary on September 10, but will come into play at the November General Election.

The Green Party candidates are united in their disgust over Democratic one-party rule in Rochester and believe that it has been destroying our fair city. They also have radical new ideas to turn Rochester around, departing from Citygov’s tried but forever failing policies of the recent past and present.

There are no Republican candidates for Rochester’s City Council, owing to the advanced decrepitude of the Rochester Republican Committee and its uninspiring leadership.

I encourage people to come to City Council candidates’ night for several reasons, if only to hear the juicy campaign promises that they will all make.

One is that we voters will have the opportunity to grill the candidates about what they hope ( they say ) to accomplish for us.

Another is to rake their tails over the coals for not accomplishing it.

Still another is that it might be the last time you see any of them until they seek re-election, since most of them rarely return to the scene of their crimes until it is election time again.

Since most politicians will promise anything to get elected, and then renege once they are in, it is for us to decide which candidates’ empty promises we can believe the most.

We have lots of choices this time!

To paraphrase a statement made by yet another famous Rochesterian, Emma Goldman: “You can have as many choices as your intelligence permits you to use or your courage allows you to take.”

The Primary Election on September 10, 2013: Isn't it time for a change in Rochester?

Rochester’s Democratic Primary is set for September 10, 2013.

That is the day when the Democrats of Rochester will choose which of the surfeit of candidates will get the Democratic line in the November General Election.

It will occur between noon and 9 PM. Registered voters will receive the location of their polling place in the mail.

There won’t be a Republican primary in Rochester this year. Nor has there been one in living memory. This is because of the dearth of city Republicans concerned enough to run for office, owing to the decrepitude of the Rochester Republican Committee and the uninspiring ineptitude of its leadership.

While the Rochester Republican Committee will be running one candidate for School Board, Democrat Mia Hodgins, the GOP has long ceased to play a serious role in Rochester politics.

Given that fact, Rochester is fortunate that there are an abundance of Democratic candidates to choose from, as well as Green Party candidates, who do not participate in the Democratic Primary. But they will be in the General Election in November!

First and foremost of the Democratic candidates are the incumbents seeking re-election, of which eight of the nine have already received the nod of the Democratic machine.

Incumbents have an advantage for several reasons.

The party machine usually backs the incumbents prior to the Primary, which allows the incumbents the luxury of doing nothing while others, whether volunteers or paid canvassers, get signatures on the necessary petitions for them.

Three of the slicker incumbents on City Council got their names on both the incumbent mayor AND Lovely Warren’s petitions, easily guaranteeing them a slot in the Primary Election.

Incumbents also have active campaign warchests in existence from their last campaigns, and campaigns are expensive.

Incumbents also have name recognition. But then so do Arthur Shawcross, Ken Bianchi and Angelo Buono.

The incumbents are demanding to be re-elected because they claim to have made Rochester “better.” This is patently untrue. We hear that same claim made by incumbents every election year, and Rochester is without question worse off than it was twenty years ago, owing to its misgovernance by popular consent.

The incumbents claim that they are “experienced!” In what? Collecting their hefty paychecks for the highest paying part-time jobs in Rochester? And once they get re-elected, they cite many lofty excuses as to why they can’t do anything, except to adequately sit in a chair.

And then there are the Democratic challengers.

United in their disgust with the way in which Rochester is being handled, they lack the advantages of the party-backed incumbents.

The challengers must get volunteers and go out themselves to get the qualifying signatures on their petitions.

The challengers do not have huge campaign warchests, and must raise funds from scratch. Nor will they get campaign contributions from those unions and big businesses who like Rochester just as it is.

Nor do the challengers have name recognition, good or bad, with Rochester’s voters.

What the challengers DO have is the courage to attempt to put a stop to the process of entropy and decay that has gone on far too long in Rochester: in the mayor’s office, in City Council, in the School Board.

Which is why the Primary Election is so important. It effectively determines who will govern Rochester.

Yet most voters choose not to vote in the Primary Election, which suits the incumbents just fine. Incumbents wax fat on apathy.

Worse still, tens of thousands of eligible citizens are not registered to vote at all! And these are people who invariably complain about Citygov!

To register takes only a few minutes. The forms can be gotten from the Monroe County Board of Elections at the County Office Building on Main Street. Or they can be picked up at the post office or the library. Or you can register online at www.monroecounty.gov/elections

The "Lovely for Mayor" campaign has three convenient locations for unregistered citizens to pick up voter registration forms!

Or they can be picked up at the “Lovely for Mayor” campaign headquarters, which has three locations to better serve the voters of Rochester: 240 Waring Road in the Waring Road Plaza; 626 West Main Street; and 1442 Dewey Avenue.

Remember: you must register by mail no later than August 16 to vote in the Primary Election on September 10. And to vote in the Democratic Primary you must be registered as a Democrat.

The Primary Election on September 10 is of earnest importance. It will determine whether or not Rochester will be subjected to the “same old, same old,” and inexorably fall into the categories of Buffalo, New York and Detroit, Michigan: dying or dead cities.

Going to Hell in a handbasket with the incumbents calling the shots or trying some new elected officials who aren’t hypnotized by the Democratic Party machine is up to the voters. It is the only time that we, the voters, can make ourselves felt.

To Monroe County Executive, Republican Maggie Brooks, flying the rainbow flag at the County Office Building during "Gay Pride Week" is a "controversial issue!"

This is “Gay Pride” week in Rochester, New York.

There is much for the LGBT Community in Rochester to be proud about!

We have the nation’s oldest gay-oriented newspaper, “The Empty Closet.”

Rochester’s LGBT Community is vibrant, visible and prominent in the arts, the professions, in business and trades. And in politics. Every election year, most Rochester politicians reach out to the gay community for their votes. Most.

Many sections of Rochester, notably in the east and southeast, are en fete with rainbow flags, which have become the symbol of the LGBT Community, since we are of all colors, nations, races and creeds.

For years, Rochester’s Citygov has chosen to honor the LGBT Community and celebrate Pride Week with us by flying rainbow flags in and about City Hall.

Not so at the County Office Building.

Despite a call-in campaign to Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks to ask her to fly the rainbow flag at the County Office Building during “Gay Pride Week,” she declined.

Maggie, a Republican, told TV 8 News that flying the rainbow flag is a controversial “issue.”

Oh, really?

Given the prominence, economic and political power of the gay community in Rochester, that was a rather stupid attitude to take.

We are property owners, tax-payers, voters. We may legally marry in New York State with full federal benefits. We are her constituents, NOT a “controversial issue.”

If Maggie is unaware that the Victorian Era has long been over, she apparently has forgotten that the twenty first century has long since begun. Perhaps the only place to apprise her, and others of her ilk, of that fact is at the polling place. Which may explain the fact that the GOP is dead in the water in the City of Rochester!

Rainbow flags themselves are unimportant per se, but they ARE a symbol.

“Gay Pride” was not born of a need to celebrate being gay, but our right to exist without persecution. To some people who might grumble that there isn’t a “Straight Pride” movement, I would suggest that they be grateful that they don’t need one.

And “Gay Pride” means not having to endure that bigoted attitudes of our elected officials without debate. They are on OUR payroll, after all.

One of the usual statements of Monroe County Executive, Republican Maggie Brooks, is that there is “bipartisanship” in the county legislature.

That statement is as inaccurate and unconvincing as is Democratic City-Councilman-At-Large Matt Haag’s explanation about the 9-0 voting pattern in Rochester’s City Council, by which they usually and unanimously rubber stamp any legislation put before them.

Perhaps I am being too harsh on Mr. Haag. He has, after all, been living in Rochester for only six years. Haag barely met the residency requirement when he ran for office four years ago. He can be forgiven for not being aware of the fact that, prior to his brief tenure in office, Rochester’s City Council was a place for discussion, debate and dissent among the councilmen, even overturning a veto by ex-mayor Bob Duffy. THAT event was not in some distant past, but it WAS only just prior to Haag’s recent residency in Rochester.

Maggie, on the other hand, has been around long enough to know better.

“Bipartisanship,” in the County Republicans’ Cosmogony, means that the minority Democrats vote with the dominant Republicans, NEVER the other way around. It also means that Democratic sponsored legislation tends to die in committee, never seeing the light of day.

Yesterday ( July 9 ), “bipartisanship” occurred in the Monroe County Legislature, but it was not the sort that the Republicans usually brag about.

Two Democratic-sponsored bills not only made it out of committee and onto the floor, but were unanimously approved by the entire legislature!

One was an ethics bill, sponsored by the Honorable Joshua Bauroth, that banned bribery. The ban means county employees, officers, and members of local development corporations cannot accept gifts from those with direct or indirect financial interests in the county. The term “gift” follows that which is described in New York state law, and includes anything of more than a nominal value.

It is odd that such a ban was never enacted before.

But then, the excremental taint of corruption that has pervaded the office of the County Executive over the last few years has finally resulted in the FBI looking into the Navitech deal. It was therefore a “no-brainer” that the Republican majority would vote for it at this time!

Of course, when Maggie was running for congress against Louise Slaughter last year, Slaughter stated ( during the second of the debates ) that “win, lose or draw” SHE would get to the bottom of Navitech. Slaughter won, and never mentioned it again.

The second bit of Democratic legislation to pass last night was sponsored, oddly enough, both by Maggie AND the Democratic Minority Leader, the Honorable Carrie Andrews!

It authorizes Brooks to work with the Perinatal Network of Monroe County to study infant mortality with the Monroe County Department of Public Health to determine the key causes.

Monroe County has the highest instances of infant mortality in the state. However, most infant mortality in Monroe County occurs in the poorest patches of the City of Rochester, which is the constituency and fiefdom of the current mayor of Rochester, Tom Richards, currently billed as a “Progressive Democrat!”

But what’s in a name?

But to get that referral passed, the Democratic minority had to use their only weapon: opposing two suburban road projects, which the suburban Republicans, the majority in the County Legislature, wanted.

Bond issues for such projects requires a “super majority” vote, of which the Republican majority was shy by a vote or two.

Ms. Andrews saw the “Achilles Heel ” in the otherwise invulnerable Republican armor, and exploited it mercilessly and effectively: the suburban Republicans will be getting their roads, and the city Democrats got two pieces of legislation passed.

A fair trade.

Now, Republican Majority Leader Steve Tucciarello and Democratic Minority Leader Carrie Andrews are singing a rather cautious version of the “Bosom Buddies” number from Mame.

Andrews and Tucciarello said they will look for more bipartisan cooperation in the future. Those statements are probably as sincere as they will be long lasting.

While the D&C quoted Ms. Andrews as saying “It was a good day for bipartisanship, we worked together to get this done and it’s a step in the right direction. We’re pleased to come together today with a good resolution,” the Republican majority whined because they had been beaten at their own game.

Republicans chided Democrats for the action, with former Majority Leader Anthony Daniele, R-Pittsford, accusing Andrews of a “hostage situation.” Brooks held a press conference giving the go ahead for the projects at a lower level of funding, blasting the Democrats in the process, and an anonymous robocall went out criticizing at least one Democrat who held the projects up.

Tant pis, GOP!

The Democratic minority has finally learned ( and what took them so long? ) that the only way they will ever get any of their sponsored legislation passed is if they threaten to block bond issues for projects the suburban Republican majority wants. Blackmail? That’s such an ugly word. Let’s just call it a vicious threat! And the Democrats, in the future, had better make sure there are bond issues on the table that they can link any proposed legislation to.

And the Republican majority? They had better learn to be nicer to the Democratic minority, at least until they have enough seats in the legislature to be able to pass bond issues without the Democrats.

This “bipartisanship” certainly isn’t real and won’t last long, but in the mean time, let’s all link hands and sing “Cumbayah!”

County Executive Maggie Brooks: What office is she looking to run for next?

When I changed my party affiliation to Democrat in October 2012, I understood that there would be a bit of lag-time until that information would be updated in the data base at the Monroe County Board of Elections.

Apparently, the Monroe County GOP hasn’t removed me from their “sucker list” yet.

Today, I received another, on apparently very expensive stationery.

On the lower left-hand side of the outer envelope was emblazoned, in the shape of a dish, “2013 Lunch With Maggie Brooks.”

NOT “The County Executive,” or “County Executive Maggie Brooks.” Just “Maggie Brooks.”

Apparently, the Monroe County GOP’s witchdoctors have found it necessary to chant her name like an evil voodoo charm.

The invitation inside of that envelope is even more interesting!

“The Finance Committee ( who’s, Maggie’s or the Monroe County GOP’s? ) Cordially invites you to the 2013 lunch with Maggie. Honoring County Executive Maggie Brooks.”

The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 1 at the Rochester Convention Center.

There is another insert detailing the expected contributions for this event, requesting that checks be made to “Friends of Maggie Brooks, c/o Monroe County Republican Committee.”

When writing checks, the phrase “Friends of” is common for campaign contributions. It doesn’t specify which office is being sought.

So what is Maggie running for now?

Under the current Monroe County Charter, there are term limits for the County Executive and County Legislators.

Maggie is in her third and final term as County Executive.

There is a rumor going around that the Monroe County Legislature is seeking to rewrite its charter to abolish term limits, which would affect both the County Executive AND the County Legislators.

When I asked a Democratic County Legislator about it, I received a laugh, a smile, a shrug and a “Well, you know…” her voice trailing off into nothing, leaving the question unanswered.

Perhaps this is an example of “bi-partisanship” in the County Legislature that Maggie claims is always evident, because it will benefit Democratic legislators just as much as her. IF they pull it off.

And, if undertaken soon, it would allow Maggie to run for a fourth term as County Executive. Which is odd, because the Democratic minority in the County Legislature regards Maggie as the Grand Diabolarch of the Dark Forces!

Of course, Maggie might simply be raising funds to run for Congress again.

Maggie was “slaughtered” by the incumbent Louise in 2012 by a considerable margin. While effective in promoting her Monroe County Republican propaganda during the two debates, Maggie seemed completely uncomfortable when confronted with national issues, sheepishly and unconvincingly answering questions about abortion, gay rights and Obamacare.

Slaughter, on the other hand, was bold and automatic when discussing national issues. Slaughter never stopped to think about what she was going to say, since she had over a quarter of a century of rote-learning in Congress to fall back upon.

To do Maggie some justice, 2012 was a presidential election as well, and a hotly contested one. More Democrats come to the polls then than during off-year elections. Maggie might actually do better in 2014, if the continued excremental taint of corruption that her administration exudes and the FBI’s investigation over irregularities in the Navitech deal don’t do her in.

Where does that leave us?

Well, we have Maggie’s annual luncheon, with checks for it being made out to her campaign bank account.

We have two possible campaigns for Maggie to undertake, depending on the circumstances, which neither the Democrats nor Republicans are talking about.

If the Republicans simply wanted to have a luncheon to honor Maggie, why didn’t they simply have the checks made payable to the Monroe County GOP?

Democrat Mia Hodgins: disgusted with the Rochester School Board making our school system the worst in New York State!

That’s right.

Democrat Mia Hodgins will be running for a seat on Rochester’s School Board on the Republican line.

Ms. Hodgins, a bright, energetic young woman, has long been disgusted with the School Board, whose antics have turned the Rochester City School District into the worst in New York State.

The incumbents seeking re-election to the School Board are neither embarrassed nor ashamed of that fact.

Ms. Hodgins did not get the Democratic endorsement to run on their ticket.

This is not surprising.

Despite frequent references to “Civics 101,” and the theoretical process of how politics works, the reality is that the various Democratic committees regard Citygov as a closed club and favors the incumbents, competent or otherwise, seeking re-election. Which is why, of the nine city offices up for grabs, eight went to the incumbents.

The exception was Cynthia Elliott from the School Board.

In fact, nothing outside of death, infirmity, scandal or moving out of Rochester will convince the leadership in those committees to consider fresh blood in office. That is because they consider themselves to be part of the status quo, which they seek to preserve.

It gives the our elected officials and politically appointed Citygov employees an almost incestuous and inbred feel, resembling “Honey Boo Boo.”

So Ms. Hodgins sought out the Republicans. The path to political advancement in Rochester and elsewhere is never without oddity.

State Senator Joe Robach, County Legislator Carmen Gamina and Chili Town Supervisor David Dunning all started out as Democrats. After they won their respective offices the first time, they promptly re-registered as Republicans.

Some Democrats in Rochester have referred to them as traitors, while forgetting the political flip-flopping of Rochester’s last two “Democratic” mayors.

Bob Duffy moved back into Rochester solely to become its police chief. Duffy then became a Democrat only to run for high political office.

Rochester’s current mayor became a Democrat in the fall of 2010, thirty seconds before Duffy appointed him deputy mayor. That conversion took place solely for Richards to mount the mayoral throne as Duffy’s proxy.

Billing Richards as a “Progressive Democrat” ( for the last few weeks, anyway ) seems to be nothing more than a marketing ploy to sell a product that does not exist.

It does suggest that the end justifies the means.

Green Party luminary Vinessa Buckland sought political office in the Town of Chili in 2011…on the Democratic line!

If politicians and elected officials are without scruple, they are also remarkably without prejudice. They will do whatever is necessary to get re-elected, shady or not.

For instance, three of the incumbents seeking re-election to Rochester’s City Council ( and all five of them got the official nod ) are on both the incumbent mayor AND the Honorable Lovely A. Warren’s petitions. This means that Carolee Conklin, Dana Miller and Loretta Scott have the campaign volunteers from BOTH camps getting them signatures, guaranteeing them a place on the primary ballot.

This suggests that they simply don’t care who gets to be mayor, as long as they get re-elected.

This historical word for this fence-sitting is “Mugwump.”

Given these facts, it is hard to accuse Ms. Hodgins of anything sinister.

The Rochester Republican Committee: A political corpse that doesn't know it is dead yet!

However, the question is why Ms. Hodgins would tie herself to the “Elephant’s Graveyard” that is the Rochester Republican Committee.

Well, owing to the Rochester Republican Committee’s advanced state of decrepitude, it won’t be running any candidates of their own. Ms. Hodgins will not have to face a primary election. And, if Ms. Hodgins gets enough Republican signatures on her petitions, she will be guaranteed, in sole prominence, the Republican line in November in the general election.

This suits the Rochester Republican Committee just fine. It can delude itself into pretending that it is still a political force in Rochester.

In fact, Ms. Hodgins’ candidacy underscores the fact that the Rochester Republican Committee has sunk to the level of a small third party. It has become a corpse that doesn’t know that it is dead yet.

For Ms. Hodgins, the negative side of the balance sheet should be perfectly clear: Democrats outnumber Republicans in Rochester more than five to one.

And everyone tends to vote straight party tickets, rarely looking beyond the D or R in front of the candidates’ names. Which has accounted for the incredible number of imbeciles that are repeatedly elected and re-elected to office, whether in the Democratic City of Rochester or Monroe county’s Republican controlled towns!

Ms. Hodgins has her work cut out for her.

But I will vote for her, regardless of what party line she is on, which is more than I can say for any of the incumbents, especially those on the School Board.

MCC might not get all the state money it needs to move to Kodak's property on State Street!

Monroe Community College’s downtown campus has been located in the Sibley Building for twenty-odd years. It has also sought to leave that site for years.

The downtown campus was never an anchor for Citygov’s often muddled plans to revitalize downtown Rochester.

Paradoxically, it was a focal point for the now-defunct, Republican sponsored “Renaissance Square” plan. That plan would have built a brand new downtown campus across the street from its current home, on the northwest corner of Main Street and Clinton Avenue.

THAT plan was merrily shot down by Rochester’s Democratically monopolized City Council for purely partisan reasons.

So MCC cast about for a different site for their downtown campus. They finally found what they claimed they were looking for: property on State Street belonging to the dying Kodak Empire.

Meanwhile, Rochester’s current mayor, Tom Richards, brokered the sale of the Sibley Building to the Boston-based Winn Company. It featured the usual deals and payments in lieu of taxes which are helping to bankrupt the city.

There was probably also the tacit understanding that Richards would do all in his power to keep MCC in the Sibley Building, as they are its major tenant.

Unwritten conventions are a usual feature of Citygov, the fiasco involving Paetech and Midtown providing a dismal ( and recent ) example.

But MCC had made up its mind to settle for the State Street site. MCC also claimed that the cost for such a move would be $72 ( or $75 ) million. Most of the cost would go to refit half of the property they were purchasing, and they were relying on state aid for half of the cost.

The Winn Company, realizing that Richards wasn’t able to pull this off for them, promptly said that they could refit the Sibley Building for MCC’s purposes for only $57 million. MCC said that the Winn Company’s offer did not take into account the presumed growth of the downtown campus.

The Republican-controlled County Legislature supported MCC in this. They could not be moved by any embarrassments this might cause the Democratic mayor of Rochester, especially in his bid to be re-elected.

Paybacks are a “beach.”

It looked like a done deal.

Then, pow, State Assemblyman Joe Morelle lowered the boom!

Yesterday, the D&C reported that Mr. Morelle said that state money was tight, that MCC might not get all the money for this move that they claim was needed, and that if MCC still wanted to move from the Sibley Building, they had better lower their proposed spending on the State Street site to the $57 million that the Winn Company offered to charge to refit the Sibley Building.

Which, of course, isn’t really possible.

Mr. Morelle knows what he is talking about; not only is he the chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee, he is also the second most powerful man in the State Assembly.

The most powerful man in the State Assembly is Sheldon Silver, who is currently trying to distance himself from the latest of the sex scandals that occur in Albany with almost boring regularity. There must be something in Albany’s air.

In short, MCC should be persuaded to stay in the Sibley Building, which would give Richards and his cheerleaders something to crow about, by tightening the state’s purse strings.

And Mr. Morelle has supported Richards in his re-election bid long before the various Democratic committees chose him as their party favorite.

Whether or not MCC moves its downtown campus to State Street or remains in the Sibley Building, nobody on either side has bothered to concern themselves with which location is best for the students.

As for the taxpayers, we’ll get stuck footing the bill whatever is decided. There will be no “savings” by moving to State Street. Nor will there be any savings if MCC’s downtown campus remains in the Sibley Building.

The Rochester Republican Elephant: A species rushing headlong towards extinction?

On March 22, 2013, Rochester City Council President, the Honorable Lovely A. Warren, Esquire, made her public announcement that she would be running for the office of mayor.

It was covered by all of the local news media.

That night, TV 8 News aired their footage of the event on their 5 PM broadcast ( which actually started at 5:30, owing to network coverage of a sporting event ).

Following that news story, TV 8 News then briefly stated that Monroe County GOP chairman Bill Reilich said that the Republicans would be running a candidate for mayor. Reilich was to make the identity of their candidate known within 60 days.

Then, silence.

There has been no further mention of a Republican candidate for mayor of Rochester.

Reilich’s self-imposed 60 day deadline expired yesterday.

The Monroe County GOP’s website offers no information whatsoever about the Republicans running candidates for any city offices. And while that website is usually current and kept up to date, it has concentrated on the perpetual occurrences of scandals going on in Albany, as well as listing the Republican candidates for the elections in the towns and villages of Monroe County. After all, the Monroe County GOP is suburban oriented.

There is nothing about Rochester.

As for the Rochester Republican Committee, which is presumably the committee most concerned with Rochester politics, their website is hopelessly stale and outdated. The only “news” there is the invitation to the Rochester Republican Committee’s annual fundraiser, the “Hooley,” which took place in the middle of March!

There is nothing whatsoever about the impending November election on the Rochester Republican Committee’s website. That might be in keeping with the secrecy practiced by what is left of their “executive board,” akin to the paranoia prevalent in the Nixon White House. Or perhaps, like any other bankrupt concern, they simply have nothing to say.

Yesterday ( May 21 ) the D&C’s Jessica Alaimo printed a brief note about the Republicans. According to Alaimo, “No GOP candidates for city offices have been announced yet, though county party chairman Bill Reilich said a City Council and a school board candidate will likely emerge.”

“Will likely emerge?”

There is no hint as to who those two candidates might be. Not that they have offered any appreciable support for Republican candidates running for office in Rochester in the recent past. Nor was there any further mention of a Republican candidate for mayor of Rochester.

Which begs the question, why did Reilich bring up running a Republican candidate in the first place on March 22?

Mind you, there is still time for the Republicans to come up with some prospective candidates for the nine purely city offices up for grabs.

Only, at this stage of the game, the announcement of such candidates would seem rather anti-climax. And really kind of an afterthought.

So, where are the Republicans?

Well, in the county, they are doing just fine!

The Republicans control the governments of all county towns and villages save one, the exception being the Town of Brighton.

The Republicans are also the majority in the Monroe County Legislature, where the suburban orientation of the Republican legislators is unmistakable. And, secure in their majority in that body, the Republicans are merrily engaged in a passive-aggressive war of attrition with the Democratic minority there.

This seems rather foolish, since the Democrats have just enough legislators to block Republican sponsored bond issues. Not that the Democrats have drawn upon their only strength in that respect.

Republican city leader Thomas V. Fiorilli: Should he hold a "Going Out Of Business" sale for the Rochester Republican Committee?

As for the City of Rochester, that is another matter.

The Grand High Poobah of the Rochester Republican Committee is city leader Thomas V. Fiorilli. Fiorilli serves as city leader solely at the pleasure of Reilich, whose suburban orientation is without question. Both of these gentlemen feel that the ten thousand plus registered Republicans still resident in Rochester could best be put to use raising money and manpower for suburban Republican candidates, rather than seriously participate in the body politic of Rochester. This has become the Rochester Republican Committee’s only reason for existence, reducing it to the level of a small “Third Party,” and rendering it politically impotent in Rochester. They are no longer one of the two “Great Parties” in our fair city.

This is underscored by the fact that the Green Party has produced a slate of five politically and socially active candidates for the nine offices up for grabs in Rochester this election year. The Green Party doesn’t have nearly the number of registered voters or the resources that the Republicans still have in Rochester, but that hasn’t stopped them from participating in Rochester’s body politic. And their candidates are reasonably well known in Rochester.

So, where are the Republicans?

As I have already stated, in Monroe County, they are doing just fine. In the City of Rochester, they are moribund and no longer a thing to be taken seriously. They certainly aren’t even attempting to replace their discredited leaders.

Perhaps Fiorilli can host a “Going Out Of Business” sale for the Rochester Republican Committee.

The Green Party candidates, left to right: Dorothy Paige ( City Council ), Lori Thomas ( School Board ), Drew Langdon ( City Council ), David Atias ( City Council ).

Ordinarily, election years for purely city offices in Rochester tend to be rather tawdry affairs.

That’s the way it goes in a one-party town.

In Rochester’s Democratically monopolized Citygov and School Board, the incumbents continually seek re-election, citing the “wonderful work” they have done to “turn the city around,” even when it’s patently obvious that they have done no such thing.

Any opposition to the Democratic incumbents has to come from within their own party.

Usually, there is a surfeit of such Democratic opposition to the incumbents, arguing that they can do a better job of governing the city.

That might be true enough…during campaign season.

But for no good, sane reason, incumbents are re-elected to office despite their failures, while the voters then scratch their heads and wonder how they got back in!

It’s simple enough: they were voted back in by the same people who criticize them!

Being in good with the party machine always helps incumbents, no matter how badly they have performed in office. And their fellow Democrats who dared to run against them? Well, they are seen as “black sheep.”

Unfortunately, this is usually the only form of dissent in our one-party town, and it isn’t appreciated by the incumbents.

And, frankly, how much experience does it take for City Councilmen to rubber stamp the current mayor’s wishes?

As for the School Board, for years they have presided over the disintegration of the Rochester City School District with no real improvements in sight, despite the claims of this year’s crop of incumbents seeking re-election, claiming that they are finally on the right track.

Where have they been all these years?

And the Republicans? They have long since abdicated as one of the two “great political parties” in Rochester. Recently, whenever some brave individuals seeking to change the city under the Republican line have sought elective office in Rochester, they have done so at their own peril, without the support of their party’s machine.

To date, for the 2013 Election, we have a Democratic incumbent mayor ( Tom Richards ) being challenged by the Democratic City Council President the Honorable Lovely A. Warren, Esquire.

Green Party candidate for mayor Alex White: "This slate of Green Party candidates will give Rochester an option not seen in years!"

Alex White, long a fixture in Rochester politics and one of the severest critics of one-party rule here, is the Green Party’s candidate for the mayoral throne.

Despite the fact that Monroe County GOP Chairman Bill Reilich stated that the Republicans would be running a candidate for mayor ( to TV 8 News on March 22 ), and that he would make the candidate’s identity public within 60 days, there has been no news from that quarter yet.

Tick, tick, tick…

As I have already stated, there are numerous Democratic challengers to the Democratic incumbents seeking re-election to City Council and the School Board. While the Democratic machine has made short work of them in the endorsement process, there will still be a Democratic primary for those offices in September.

This, too, is usual.

However, today ( May 1 ) in front of City Hall, the Green Party announced its slate of candidates for City Council and the School Board: for City council, David Atias, Drew Langdon and Dorothy Paige; for School Board, Lori Thomas.

All of these candidates have been actively involved in Rochester for years, whether it be in business, education or social work.

Today, the Green Party candidates expressed their unanimous frustration with Citygov, of how the Democratic monopoly in Citygov has failed Rochester, of how Citygov is incapable of instituting change because there is no real reason for them to do so.

The status quo suits the Democratic incumbents just fine!

Alex White, the Green Party’s candidate for mayor, stated that he was delighted to be standing with a whole group of Green Party candidates, rather than running alone.

Furthermore, Alex said “These candidates will give Rochester an option not seen in years!”

That’s true enough; Monroe County GOP Chairman Bill Reilich hasn’t announced that there will be Republican candidates for any of the five City Council seats or the three School Board seats up for grabs.

Furthermore, the three Green Party candidates for City Council stated that they would NOT be mere rubber stamps for the mayor, whoever he or she turns out to be. Even Alex.

Nor would they seek to pass legislation which has been found to be illegal and unconstitutional, as has been the repeated habit of City Council.

Pro small business, pro “green friendly” solutions to city living, pro-neighborhoods. That is what they support.

And Lori Thomas?

Having been a teacher at Lincoln School#22, she is upset with the practice of corporate education that is prevalent in the Rochester City School District that does NOT concentrate on our children. Lori is also in favor of a return to neighborhood schools.

More information about the Green Party candidates can be found on Green Rochester’s website: www.greenrochester.org .

The Green Party is at least providing an alternative to one-party rule in Rochester. It behooves us, as presumably well-informed citizens, to at least listen to what they have to say and offer.

And the definition of stupid: doing the same failed things over and over and over again, expecting a different outcome each time.

Monroe County GOP Chairman Bill Reilich: Within 60 days, the Republicans will reveal the identity of their candidate for Rochester's mayor. Haven't they picked one yet?

Today ( March 22 ) Rochester City Council President the Honorable Lovely A. Warren, Esquire made her public announcement that she would be running for the office of mayor.

The various news programs on local television covered that event.

They also interviewed the mayor who now is, Tom Richards, and Green Party contender Alex White.

There are now officially three candidates for mayor.

Then, Channel 8 news dropped a bombshell: the Republicans will be running a candidate for mayor.

According to News 8, Monroe County GOP Chairman Bill Reilich announced that the Republicans would be running someone for mayor.

Apparently, Reilich never said who the Republicans would be running. Reilich did say that they would make public the Republican candidate’s identity within 60 days.

Hmmm, that’s odd?

Does Reilich know who they will be running, or are they still looking for a candidate?

And if the GOP already has a specific person in mind, do they really need 60 days to shave, shower, pluck, outfit and remake their candidate in their own image? Including a heavily edited biography?

Well, cream cheese might take an awfully long period of time to carve. Hopefully, it will look like something from Rochester.

And where was the City Leader of the Rochester Republican Committee when this announcement was made? Does Thomas V. Fiorilli count for so little within the GOP that the county chairman had to make this statement?

Well, Reilich’s announcement has added a marginal bit of interest to this campaign, for all the good it will do, since the GOP abandoned the City of Rochester a long time ago.

And hopefully the GOP will be fully supportive of their sacrificial lamb in this election. They haven’t been of Republican candidates running for purely city offices for the last decade or so.

Contributors

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Rich Gardner has been writing about the history, culture and waterways of Upstate New York for years. His articles have appeared in U.S. and Canadian publications, and one book, Learning to Walk. He is an alumnus of Brighton High School and SUNY Geneseo. He operates Upstate Resume & Writing Service in Brighton and recently moved to Corn Hill, where he is already involved in community projects. "I enjoy the 'Aha!' moments of learning new things, conceptual and literal. City living is a great teacher."

Ken Warner grew up in Brockport and first experienced Rochester as a messenger boy for a law firm in Midtown Tower. He recently moved downtown into a loft on the 13th floor of the Temple Building with a view of the Liberty Poll and works in the Powers Building overlooking Rochester’s four corners as Executive Director for UNICON, an organization devoted to bringing economic development to the community. He hopes to use his Rochester Blog to share his observations from these unique views of downtown.